GB-PVR with on-board Sigma Hardware Decoder

[sash]

to built a a graph with sigma it quite easy.
this is the simplest way

first in graph edit load the sigma filter
by going to insert filter an double clicking on sigma designs mpeg2 hardware decoder
it should load

second: goto file on graphedit then you should see render mediafile > browse and select media file that is an mpeg. it should build a graph for you using the sigma filter..

third: press play and see how it plays; and see how it plays if an active windows pops up and nothing displays, I think you need to render with vip/vpe render . for that delete the video render filter at the end of your newly built graph and search through the ds filters you should see one with vip or vpe in the name and connect it pin to the render pin on the sigma filter the same way the previous filter was connected.. and see it it displays then.. i think it should.. and it proably wants to be built this way in gb-pvr to view too..

[shspvr]

sash there is no vip or vpe filter in the graphedit insert this is done automatic with the Sigma drivers if the dll is there

Big Dawg this it done 2 way to do it depend a few thing as long you didn't install any Software DVD Player or Software MPEG2 codec.

First Start GraphEdit

1: File | Render Media File "Chosse a MPEG clip to load" then you should see.
File Media Filter "Name of the file"
Sigma Designs MPEG Stream Splitter
Sigma Designs MPEG-2 hardware decoder
Video Renderer

2. Under “DirectShow Filters” insert the following
a) File Source (Async.) "Chosse a MPEG clip to load".
b) Sigma Designs MPEG Stream Splitter.
c) Sigma Designs MPEG-2 hardware decoder.
d) Video Renderer.
Note there are "2" Video Renderer listed under “DirectShow Filters” if the pin is saying VMR Input0 that not the rigth Filter you want it to only say "Input".

Ok now Click on the Green Play Button dose it display in a Window?.

I hope your use the Activy 300 drivers

[Big Dawg]

Yeah, I did exactly that, it automatically loaded the right filters. It played the video fine (~4% CPU usage). I guess I already got it set up when I had gotten Mytheatre working. Does this mean that GB-PVR will automatically use the hardware decoder when I use it? Do I need to save the graph or something? Thanks.

[sash]

shspvr
no problem, like I said I do not have xcard or the galaxy card. and . I guess i could be confusing it with another vip/vpe filter I have on my machine. but I could have sworn I had this sigma vip/vpe filter installed as a DS filter when I was playing with it a few months ago. but this was a new vpe filter that I downloaded form sigma. but I looked for it I can not find it any more it use to be at the top of the xcard directory for FTP site. about 8 months ago. I will see if I have it on cd back up somewhere..
sorry for any bad info I gave out..

edit: humm I am puzzled.I can still see it bright in my minds eye, "vpe render". maybe it like the pcm swapper . it does not register,always for the netstream 2000, but sigma software look for it and use it, if it finds it. perhaps if you register it it will show up as a filter later ????

[shspvr]

sash well then what the file name that in GraphEdit that it is showing then? why I ask is that the NetStream 2000 dose not have a 26 pin Port only the NetStream 2000TV, Xcard and some Clone REALmagic device and a few older Sigma Designs card do.
Just wonder Big Dawg if you using a PVR 150 or 250 have try SageTV?.

[sash]

shspvr-- I know the netstream 2000 does not have VIP port ( the reason I was testing the rmvpe32.dll I was testing to see if I could map out the connections for a solder on pins on the netstream 2000 for vip support- but I gave up not enough time or motivation) . but also in experiment making various custom drivers sets for netstream cards and hplus cards I would test all the drivers packages and filters ( for pretty much every card made by sigma) against each other to see what is compatible and what particular out come could be reached by using a particular filter or dll against a a particular driver package.. in doing so I have being able to package driver set that are pretty stable for the netstream 2000 and hplus card making them more compatible with more software. that I released to the public for everyone to use..

The filter name, I am pretty sure was, "vpe render" if you expanded the the filter to see the location it would show the name and location of the filter.. since I erase my computer quite regularly and try to back old data to dvd ( most times, unless I have hardrive failure before I do ) I should have the file somewhere.. just to go through 30 or 40 cd's to find it..


the netstream2000 driver package. is basically just a reconfigured xcard or netsream 4000 installer package. but you can use any em8400 based driver package against netstream 2000 card and it will work perfectly fine. one just needs to register rmswap.ax to get the sound portion to work.. as for the hplus card it is a combination of the netsream 2000,hplus and dvr driversets to make a very stable driverset. that works fine even with gb-pvr in non vmr mode, via the monitor.( vip connector for this card would probable be a good thing or a vga to tv adapter would work too I guess).

point being if I can get an hplus to work somewhat via non vmr mode in gb-pvr I am pretty sure Big Dawg should be able to too. ( I would think)

[shspvr]

sash the part you fail to under stand I think in Big Dawg case his Direct Hardwire VIP on the motherboard it self so there for his setup dosen't have VGA Pass-Thur "Sigma EM9010 analog overlay", etc, etc like a reg Hollywood Plus, NetStream 2000, NetStream 2000TV, NetStream 4000 add-on device do

[sash]

never mind, there no reason to banter back and forth, I understand that part VIP. but it does display in a resizeable window in MY Theatre, I gather. if it does that I see no reason why it would not display in the active window of that gb-pvr makes.. via non vmr mode.. that all I am saying on the matter....



pS. By the way I found the "newer" rmvpe32.dll it does not register. so I was mistaken on that part.. I must have confused it with another Mpeg card I was working with , at the same time, that uses inlay. cinemaster or the creative inlay trying to sort out compatiblity for them and directshow capablities..

[shspvr]

It could be the way sub build GB-PVR what why I ask Big Dawg to try SageTV after Sage support NetStream 2000, NetStream 2000TV, NetStream 4000 and Xcard but not the Hollywood Plus becuase it dose have a ture directshow driver.

[Big Dawg]

Thanks for all your help guys, but all is well after all. Turns out that GB-PVR is, apparently using the Hardware MPEG decoder after all. I found out that the CPU usage while playing back recorded files in program was very low (~3% to ~7%). It was only during playing Live TV did the CPU usage spike and remain full throttle (but plays very smoothly), I suspect because of the OSD, buffering or some other issue (usage is also maxed out when downloading new scheduling as well.)